By Chua Chin Hon
Moves for greater global efforts to tighten nuclear security would not affect Singapore's plans to consider the possible use of nuclear energy, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said in Washington.
MOVES for greater global efforts to tighten nuclear security would not affect Singapore's plans to consider the possible use of nuclear energy, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said in Washington.
A two-day summit on nuclear security there ended on Tuesday with 47 world leaders adopting a communique and work plan that would boost efforts to lock down or destroy vulnerable atomic materials.
The summit is part of United States President Barack Obama's broader plans to toughen the international regime against nuclear proliferation, and to eventually rid the world of atomic weapons.
Asked if these developments would in any way affect Singapore's plans to consider nuclear power as a source of energy supply, Mr Lee said: 'No, it doesn't. Many countries use nuclear power, and more wish to study the possibility. But there must be proper safeguards as to how the reactors work, how the materials are secured, and in fact what sort of materials to use because there are reactors which use highly enriched uranium which can be used to make bombs.
'So these are considerations which we have to take seriously. But they should not hinder the project.'
He stressed that a final decision had not been made, and that the Government was just beginning to study the long-term feasibility of nuclear power for Singapore.
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